Re: Routemaster

On 11 Dec 2005 04:48:08 -0800, "Mait001@xxxxxxx" <Mait001@xxxxxxx>
wrote:

>Having read this thread with interest, and having queued for almost 2
>hours on Thursday (unsuccessfully, I might add!), I can give the
>following observations:-
>
>(a) Yes, Mike Walton, the manager is VERY helpful, but constrained by
>his "political masters" (his words, not mine),

He has said something similar to me.

>(b) Mike Walton is very put upon, having a genuine wish to help real
>enthusiasts but prevented from doing more by others (although not
>expressly stated, including his staff);

I don't doubt his wish to help. I might question the rest of the remark
- he is the manager after all.

>(d) A combination of T.F.L. (who disliked intensely the very concept of
>commemorating the last RM) and EFE (who seem to have genuine capacity
>problems) limited the TOTAL output of these 2 special RML models to
>1000 of each;

You keep saying TfL dislike the concept of commemoration. They've done
some very strange things then given this apparent dislike. Where do you
get this view from?

>(e) The official line is that the Shop "lacked the logistics" to either
>stock more than 300 models per day or handle the sales in any other way
>than have the idiotic queues that were seen on all 3 days;

Well there is a limit to their storage space but there is still storage
space in the main museum that is accessible. I know this because that is
where they held my Sunstar RMC until I was able to collect it.

>(f) The Covent Garden authorities were less than pleased at the way
>this was handled, since 300 or more people queuing around the gallery
>of the lower-floor artistes' performing area harmed trade generally for
>those 3 days;

They can't have it both ways if you take on board Ian's remarks about
exercising a lot of control of the area. If they didn't want queues
around this area they should have facilitated other arrangements. If
they weren't prepared to help then tough. As I suspect the Museum shop
is the most successful retail outlet in the whole piazza then I think
they have little to complain about. The Museum brings a considerable
"foot fall" to the area which makes it attractive to the retailers who
decide to pay the rents to have a presence in the area.

>(g) It was T.F.L. who forbade firstly a stall at Streatham Bus Garage
>and then at Telford Road - ostensibly because of "health and safety"
>but in reality because of the point made in (d) above.

Odd then that there was a stand selling models, books and magazines at
Streatham on Thursday then. If it was banned I don't see how it was
still there by early afternoon - if it was a problem I'm sure the police
would have closed it down. As for Telford Avenue - well this is an
operational garage on a very busy stretch of road. With the best will in
the world I cannot see how a stand could be organised there without
there being congestion and accident risks or else disruption to Arriva's
operations that would ripple across an area of South London thus
inconveniencing a lot of people.

>And finally, to the utter consternation of one of those same (upstairs)
>"unhelpful" staff, they had their biggest sale ever just ahead of me in
>the Friday evening queue: a man demanding to buy a real Routemaster:
>eventually they put him through to Ensignbus on the Shop telephone and
>as I left he was giving his credit card details to secure the sale!

I don't doubt the staff have difficult people to deal with but they
could be a damn sight more helpful and pleasant *consistently* than they
are. And yes I do know what it is like dealing with the great general
public at times before that particular comment is thrown back in my
face.
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!

.

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